Cecilia's Sampler Retreat and Meeting a Blogging Friend

Last week a Sherri and I attended our first Cecilia's Samplers Retreat in Branson, MO. It was great! The theme was a Fall Fiesta. We drove up a day early because Branson is like 12 hours away from us and detoured big time through Nashville, TN and visited The Stitchin' Post Nashville. I didn't get any pictures, but it was a very good store. Then onward to Cecilia's Samplers. Below is the outside of the store, very unassuming for what's inside, which is just a stitcher's heaven! 

Outside of Cecilia's

This is one shows a side wall of the Weeks and Crescent Color threads and looks towards the front of the store where you have fabric and lots of lovely accessories.

Ignore me! Look at the glorious wall of threads, this is the other wall of threads, this one Gentle Art and Carrie's Creation and Kreinik. I was picking out thread for one of the million projects I have! LOL 

A little peek at their Halloween section, they have lots of wonderful models all around the store.

Here is Sherri perusing the fabric. They have a wonderful fabric selection and will cut fabric to your specifications, not just in the standard cuts, Even better, they will serge the fabric for you. The fabric section is a little tight when lot's of ladies are trying to get in there and choose fabric ;-) 

Here is Sherri again making yet another purchase, we are so bad! You see a little more of the store.

This picture is looking down again from the fabric section. All in all, a great store. It was definitely a family affair for the owners and they were all so nice. The retreat check in started on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 pm and the conference/stitching room was open until 11 pm every night and open again at 8 am. The first night we had pizza, drinks and dessert provided by Cecilia's, the pizza was fabulous! When I go again, I will be saving myself for that-LOL  All retreat activities were done between 6-8 pm every night, which left you free to stitch, shop at the store, see a show (lots of those there)  or eat. We received gift cards for our meals and the breakfast was at the hotel if you were interested or you could eat where you wanted!  The great thing the store did was do a raffle to raise money for The  Wounded Warriors, the raffle was for a 250 dollar gift card to the store. I am sad to say, I didn't win.  The store matched the donations from their two retreats and all in all raised over 2,000 dollars for The Wounded Warriors.  On top of that, we received gifts and everyone won a door prize of which some had some gift certificates added for the store. 

Now for one of the best parts of retreat, and that was meeting Chelle from Totally Toadlily. Chelle and I first connected when I started blogging in 2006 or 2007. I never expected to meet her, we had always spoken via email and the we found each other on Facebook. Here we are below. Chelle, it was great to meet you and I hope we will get to see each other again! I also made some new stitching friends well. It was a great trip!

Mary's Sampler II

Paulette of Plum Street Samplers has been been sharing a wonderful Sunday Mystery Sampler the last several weeks called Mary's Sampler and Mary's Sampler II.  The theme is the birth of Christ. The mystery lasts a total of 9 weeks and a new part is released every Sunday. This past Sunday was the start of the 5th week.  When you finish you will have a beautiful holiday sampler. I couldn't resist of course, so I gathered my supplies and I  started about 3 weeks in. The parts released have been so easy to manage, and even though I started later I was able to get caught up quite easily. Let's hope I can stay caught up! The only difference between the two samplers is that sampler 2 is a little more dense in it's stitching. I am stitching sampler 2.  I am stitching mine on 30 count Apple Brown Bindy with Gentle Art's threads.  If you haven't decided yet, go take a look! 

As usual, the month has gotten away from me, but that's not new.  I feel like I have been at work a lot with classes and working extra, so not a whole lot of stitching going on here. I am looking forward to November, my baby girl turns 18! We haven't quite decided what to do yet, though she continues to find ways to spend my money. I also am going to a retreat at Cecilia's Samplers in Branson, MO. with a friend. I have never been, so I am really looking forward to that. We are going to make a detour through Nashville as well. Can't wait!

Thanks to those of you left comments in regards to Cathey...she touched a lot of people and she will be missed. (Edited to add-there is a beautiful tribute pattern to Cathey and you can find it here)

Anyway, I am off to watch The Voice, love that show and hopefully get some stitches in.

Blessings

xoxo

Remembering Cathey

I am sad to have learned that Cathey of Pumpkin Patch & Co. has lost her very brave battle against cancer. Though she will be greatly missed,  she is no longer in pain or suffering.  Please pray for her family and friends, but most especially for a sweet little 18 month old boy who will never truly get to know his mom. Hug your loved ones today and always! 

Pumpkins for Cathey!

Dear Cathey, as a fervent pumpkin stalker, I want to wish you a fabulous and a very Happy Blogoversary!  It's always been a great pleasure to visit your blog and see whatever beautiful pieces you are stitching on and to catch a glimpse of your adorable little man. I wish you many, many heartfelt blessings today and always. 

xoxo

Works in Progress

The days continue to fly by and before you know it, you haven't updated your blog in a month! Since I was last here, the kids have started school. My baby began high school and my oldest began college. My daughter got her driver's license, so now I am free from ferrying her around. It's so nice. If the youngest needs to go anywhere, I just make the other's take him! LOL  As for me, I have been stitching. I am no where close to finishing anything but I am enjoying the journey to get there. I also have been stashing too, but that is a story for another day ;-)  Please forgive the wrinkles!

Promised Lamb by Plum Street Samplers in progress on a 32 count Lakeside Linen, not sure of the color. I am using the recommended threads, but the recommended fabric was not available. I love this one. The colors are just divine and I have had a hard time putting this one down. I just can't stitch fast enough!

This is an updated picture of the ES Spot Motif sampler, I am getting to the halfway point and I love this one too. One of my favorite motifs is the orange looking flowers on the left side. I also started Away We Ride by Blackbird Designs, I hopefully will have more progress on that and will show you the next time.  

I must  run, I hope you have a blessed and terrific Sunday! Thanks for all your comments my last post. I love hearing from you guys!

xoxoxo

Good Intentions, a Finish and De-Stashing

Well the title says it all, good intentions. Which is what I thought I had to come and make a  new blog post. Somehow, I never got here. But finally, here I be with a small finish called Harvest Moon by Island Cottage Needlearts. I started it ages ago and finally picked it up and completed it. Stitch count is 77 x 56.  It's stitched on 30 count Celadon with Gentle Art Threads. Finishing plans are for framing.

  I also have made some progress on my ES Spot Motif Sampler. I have been enjoying all the bright colors in this one and I managed to get the border to meet after only three tries-LOL  Whew!  I currently am impatiently  waiting on some stash in the mail. Stacy Nash's Summer at Hollyberry Farm, and Promised Lamb by Plum Street Samplers. I have been itching to start these, especially the Stacy Nash piece.

Now in regards to the de-stashing part, I have been slowly getting rid of things that I knew I wasn't going to stitch over the last few months. My focus has primarily gone to samplers.  Theresa at Shakespeare's Peddler had a recommendation on her Facebook page about a lovely lady named Kathy who does EBay consignment. I contacted her and the rest as they say is history. I have sold stuff through her three times. She has been extremely reliable, with great communication and I haven't had not one issue. So, if you are interested in trying to pare down some of your things then please contact Kathy. She is always on the look out for more things to sell. You can contact her at kkrause414@gmail.com and she will be glad to explain how it works.  Tell her I sent you!

Thanks for all your lovely comments in regards to my Sarah's House finish. I appreciate it very much. I am off to stitch. Be blessed friends!

xoxo

A Finish and June WIPocalypse

Finally finished my Sarah's House by Blackbird Designs in the wee hours of the morning. I really could have been finished with this a long time ago, but I had to take a break from it after some reverse stitching just drove me crazy. Also that border was a little tricky as well.  It is stitched on the called for 30 count Abcedarian fabric with recommended Gentle Arts threads. I love, love the colors in this one and I wish occasionally that I had not been frugal and had went with the silks! It is to be framed and will be a wonderful addition to my sampler wall.

This is also a wipocalypse finish for me as well as this was on the list. I seem to add and stitch more than stitch what was originally on the list. Not sure what I will pick up next. I have worked some my ES Spot Motif Sampler. I have also been kitting some projects. I had started Jane Pattison by Shakespeare's Peddler, however was not happy with the fabric choice. So I got more and I haven't restated it as I am thinking I will do that one in silks using The Attic's conversion.  I also have been loving Isabella Fox, which I have seen finished on several blogs. Also, Stacy Nash has a new one called Summer at Hollyberry Farm which I love too.  It's always wonderful to have choices.

A Belated WIPocalypse...

First and foremost, I must thank you all for your very kind words in regard to my son. They were wonderful and very much appreciated. He has finished and officially graduates June 4th. We are looking forward to it and also excited to see what his Senior honors night holds for him. I still can't believe we are here at this point. There were many a day that I thought I would snatch myself bald! 

Now on to my belated WIPocalypse, I didn't post last month but I am pleased to say I had two finishes. Of course, they were not on the original list but additions instead.  Now for this month, I don't have any finishes but a couple of new starts. Again new additions to the list. 

The first is ES Spot Motif Sampler by Of Female Worth. It is an oop sampler that another stitcher kindly loaned me. Below is my start. I love it, it has a lot of red in it and is quite colorful. It is being stitched with Weeks Dye threads on 32 count Irish Cream. 

Next up, is Kitty Cat Row by Bent Creek. I have become the cat lady-LOL  I happened to see 

a finish on the Stitches and Spice website in Australia with a Dinky Dye silk conversion. I loved it! What I didn't love was the price of the silks from there to me!  So, I enlarged the picture and went through the Dinky Dyes pictures on 123Stitch and came up with a conversion that appeared to be close. You can't tell it very much by the picture below, but you will as I stitch the other cats. Theirs was also done on a pink or rose color linen, however I chose  32 count PTP Earthern. The Dinky Dyes silks have been a pure pleasure to stitch with! (Please forgive my wrinkles)

Now, the reason why I have become the cat lady is that I have a new cat! She makes number 5 and for now my cat family is complete. Her name is Kensi and she is a rescue cat that I got from a local shelter called Hotel for Dogs and Cats. She is a tortie or tortoiseshell cat and is about 6 months old.  She is very hard to take a good picture of, as she is still a little skittish. However, she is finally coming around! If you are an NCIS fan, you will notice that she is named after SA Kensi Blye on NCIS: LA. Yes, I am that obessed! LOL

Anyway, if you have made it to the end here,  thank you!  Thanks for your continued visit and kind words! Be blessed my friends!

xoxoxo

Two Finishes!

First up is Wrought by My Hand by Pineberry Lane. This was a Prim Sister's Club kit. It was such fun to stitch. I changed my colors up just a little. The chart had one more color option for the insides of the berries, which was the cream color you see above. The shirt on my little lady was supposed to be a gray color but since it didn't go very with her darker skin tone, I changed it to cream as well.  I also decided to leave her face blank. This was stitched on 30 count Confederate Gray linen with Gentle Arts Threads. I did make one mistake in that it was supposed to be stitched with one thread over two. I didn't read my directions (bad Sharon!) and I stitched mine two over two.  Note to self, read the darn directions first!

This is The Sowing Sampler by Norforgotten Farm. It was also a Prim Sister's Club kit which a lovely stitcher was so very kind to let me borrow her pattern. I just loved this saying on this sampler so much! I did read the directions this time and it is stitched one thread over two on 30 count Tin Roof linen, with Gentle Art Threads. Both these pieces are to be framed and I am thinking of doing a primitive type of stitching wall in my bedroom. So, I think I am off to a good start with these two!

Last but certainly not least, I leave you with a picture of my oldest Brandon, this was him on his way to his Senior prom. I am so proud of him this year. He has been on the A/B honor roll all year and he will graduate high school next month on June 4th. So hard to believe we are at this point. I can still remember bringing him home from the hospital! Time really does fly! He plans to go to college and he would like to do engineering (or so he says at the moment!)LOL 

An Amazing Gift!

Dear friends, I am behind this month or should I say from last month. I have a finish and my WIPocalypse to update, a prom and my birthday. But today, I received this fabulous birthday gift in the mail from a friend.  It is a quilted wall hanging and it's perfect. So perfect, I felt it deserved a post all by itself.  I won't tell you who she is because I don't think she wants that attention. However, I must say to her that words can't express how much this amazing gift means to me and I will treasure it always. I can't thank you enough!